I don't lower the blade. "Annora Vale is Lady of Blackwood Fortress. My mate. My choice. She's not going anywhere."
"This istreason," Corvus hisses. "Open rebellion. The king will—"
"Send an army?" I smile. It's not a pleasant expression. "Good. I'll be waiting."
I can see him calculating. Trying to figure out if he has enough men to take her by force right now.
He doesn't.
He knows it.
"The Compact—" he tries one last time.
"The Compact assumed we were animals who couldn't form attachments. Who would be grateful for any scrap of humanity you offered." I look at Annora. She's watching me with something fierce and proud in her eyes. "You were wrong."
I turn back to Corvus. "Go back to your king. Tell him Lord Vorak of Blackwood has chosen his mate. Tell him the cursed are done bowing. Tell him—"
"My lord!"
A messenger sprints into the courtyard, gasping for breath, stumbling over the cobblestones.
"What?" I don't take my eyes off Corvus.
"News from the southern ports, my lord. Lord Theron—the vampire—he's refused to return his bride too." The boy is white-faced, terrified. "And Lord Kael. The shadow mage. Both of them. They've broken their chains."
My heart kicks once, hard.
Not just me then.
The crown's entire plan is falling apart.
Corvus has heard it too. I can see the fury and fear warring in his expression.
"This is war," he says flatly. "You understand that? All of you. This iswar."
"Then it's war."
I nod to Rurik. He signals. The gates open.
"Leave," I tell Corvus. "While you still can."
For a moment, I think he might actually be stupid enough to try something.
Then sense wins out over pride.
The delegation retreats—scrambling onto horses, backing toward the gates, eyes wide with shock and barely-suppressed panic.
When they're gone, I finally lower my blade.
Turn to Annora.
She's staring at me with wide eyes. Not fear. Not shock.
Pride.
"That was—" she starts.
I don't let her finish.
